Certify Medical Assistant Atlantic Highlands NJ - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Pick a Medical Assistant Training Program near Atlantic Highlands New Jersey

Atlantic Highlands NJ medical assistant checking pulse Once you have decided to join the rewarding profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Atlantic Highlands NJ, it’s time to choose a college that will provide the appropriate training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently pick the best one? Most future students start by researching the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the lowest tuition. While location and cost are extremely important such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are critical issues as well. You may decide to look into several online medical assistant programs as an option also (more about that later). The main point is that before you select a college you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are examining. And to assist you with that task, we have provided some questions that you need to ask all of the schools on your “maybe” list. But prior to starting that review, let’s talk a little bit about the role of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are offered.

The Role of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Atlantic Highlands NJ nursing home patient The responsibilities of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Essentially their function is ensure that the Atlantic Highlands NJ hospitals, clinics and other medical care facilities where they work run successfully. Based on the type or size of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for providing direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other health practitioners but can also be found working at the front desk or in an office. A few of the possible duties of a medical assistant include:

Filling out insurance forms and filing claims
Scheduling and confirming appointments
Taking vital signs and weighing patients
Taking blood and other tissue and fluid specimens
Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
Providing general support during exams and procedures

Although medical assistants can perform almost any activity they are qualified to under New Jersey law, some opt to specialize in a particular area and earn certification. Two of the choices offered are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) made available by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Programs

Compared to many other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to earn a college degree. However, many Atlantic Highlands NJ health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are essentially two choices available for a formal education. The first and quickest way to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a diploma or a certificate. These programs generally take about one year to finish, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are created to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are typically 2 year programs provided at community and junior colleges in addition to vocational and technical schools. They are more extensive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They frequently have a practical element involving an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Medical Assistant Online Schools

woman attending medical assistant school online in Atlantic Highlands NJ There are many accredited medical assistant programs available online also. They are a good option for those who may not have time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is an especially good option for students who continue to work full time while earning their degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, a number of online programs have lower tuitions than the more conventional on campus alternatives. Supplemental expenses such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies may be reduced as well. Just remember that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be met, but they can often be carried out in Atlantic Highlands NJ area healthcare facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of going to supervised classes on campus, then this approach to getting your training might be the ideal option for you. With the online classes and the practical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As stated previously, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent option for graduates who want to advance their careers. Not only will it help in obtaining employment after graduation, but it might also help with initial salary negotiations. A number of potential Atlantic Highlands NJ medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not received certification or accredited formal training. One of the most popular and possibly the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to apply for the CMA examination, an applicant must be a graduate or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are offered also, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.

Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Atlantic Highlands NJ medical assistant programs Before you can start reviewing your medical assistant school options, you need to decide which kind of credential you would like to attain, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online from home. As soon as those choices have been made, you can start the process of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, many potential students confine their searches to the schools that are nearest to Atlantic Highlands NJ with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are several additional considerations that you need to examine when assessing schools. To help you with that task, below are some questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are a number of great reasons to ensure that the program you enroll in is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you must enroll in an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged organizations for accreditation are the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). If your school is not accredited by one of these agencies, you will not be qualified to take the CMA examination. Also, if you intend on applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are normally not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, a number of potential Atlantic Highlands NJ employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the Program’s Passing Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you need to determine which of the certifications the schools you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will need to select a program concentrating on that certification. Next, find out what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is one of the ways to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Of course programs with lower rates are ones that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Credentials are Offered? As we previously covered, there are essentially two paths to getting medical assistant training. You can choose a diploma or certificate program and obtain entry level training in the shortest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is about one year. Or you can opt to earn an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will require approximately two years to accomplish in a community college or vocational school. Whatever program you choose to enroll in, make certain that the schools you are considering offer the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Offered? Many medical assistant programs sponsor internship programs with Atlantic Highlands NJ area medical providers. They are an excellent means to get hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also help students build relationships within the Atlantic Highlands health care community. And as an added perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Help Offered? Finding that initial job may be a daunting undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they obtain a little assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are interviewing offer job placement assistance in the Atlantic Highlands NJ area and ask what their placement rate is. If a program has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. It also indicates that it has a large network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Big are the Classrooms? Class size may be an indication of how much personal attention you will receive throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to furnish greater access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If convenient, try to sit in on a few classes before selecting a college to experience what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue to work full time, it’s essential that the program you choose offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Atlantic Highlands NJ, verify that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will still need to schedule all clinical training or internships that might be required. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to work, illness or family issues.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Atlantic Highlands New Jersey?

If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Atlantic Highlands NJ area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.

Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey

Atlantic Highlands is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, in the Bayshore Region. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 4,385,[9][10][11] reflecting a decline of 320 (-6.8%) from the 4,705 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 76 (+1.6%) from the 4,629 counted in the 1990 Census.[20]

Atlantic Highlands contains Mount Mitchill, the highest point on the eastern seaboard south of Maine, rising 266 feet (81 m) above sea level.[21] The borough's name comes from its location overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.[22]

Atlantic Highlands was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 28, 1887, from portions of Middletown Township, based on the results of a referendum held that day. The borough was reincorporated on September 1, 1891.[23]

Choose the Best Medical Assistant Course Atlantic Highlands NJ

Atlantic Highlands NJ medical assistant student It’s important to begin your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant school that will provide the appropriate training. Regardless if you’re goal is to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you need to obtain the right info on available programs prior to making your selection. There are so many colleges offering training nowadays that you can make a decision based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have covered in this article, make sure that the program you pick is accredited by a recognized agency, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially critical if you intend on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Certify Medical Assistant. But regardless of the type of credential that you plan to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an on-campus or online school, don’t forget to ask the questions we have provided in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the best program you can ultimately start a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Atlantic Highlands NJ.